Inmate Work Programs

The kitchen of the Humboldt County Correctional Facility prepares an average of 1,120 meals on a daily basis. Inmates staff the kitchen under the direction of a civilian Correctional Cook. There are three work shifts in the kitchen, one for each meal. All meals are prepared by inmate workers. The average cost of a meal served is $1.76.

Laundry is responsible for sorting, washing, drying, and folding of all the inmate clothing and bedding issued at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. The laundry room is staffed 24 hours a day with a crew of three to four inmate workers. A large volume of laundry is generated everyday as inmates from several housing units exchange their clothing and clean bedding is issued.

Inmates from the Inmate Worker dorm are assigned to the numerous janitorial duties that are needed to maintain the facilities cleanliness. Inmate janitors are available 24 hours a day in three shifts. Each shift of inmate janitors clean the hallways of the facility and may be assigned additional areas by correctional or facility staff. Several inmates are assigned to floor care. These inmates must first attend a class to learn the basics of stripping and waxing floors, as well as the proper operation of the equipment.

The Cal-Trans work program is a program that uses inmates housed in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility to work on projects outside the facility under the supervision of a correctional officer. Projects are generally roadside projects and clean-ups along the counties highways. The California Department of Transportation fund this program and provides tools and a van for the transportation of inmates to the work-site. Inmates are screened by facility staff before they are allowed outside of the facility.